The Official #6 Tennessee @ Texas A&M Game Thread, 8:00 PM ET, ESPN

[Creeker]

I honestly thought we got a better whistle than A&M in the first half

We did shoot more FTs than they did. Surprising since they took more shots and seemed like they attacked the rim a lot more often. I can’t blame Pat so far.

 

[Go47]

You run into games with these environments and a team en fuego from time to time. It was the other two conference games we dropped when Miss St really did not play well and South Carolina at home that are the ones you let get away and make this game close to a must win.

Yes. The thought was (at the time) the MSU loss was a “good loss.” It was not. And we head no business losing to USC at home.

 

[walkenvol]

Brothers, I’ll be shocked if we turn this thing around and come back. We’re completely out of sorts and they’re shooting lights out. The crowd is bringing it and I’m impressed with A&M’s defense. Not a combination for success.

 

[RockyTop140]

I would agree with that, but these guys are veterans. Juniors and Seniors. Just no excuse for inconsistent play. I just don’t get it.

They are veterans. But none of them have stepped up all year outside of Kentucky. They are not confident at all.

 

[VolGee4]

Does Barnes mess with their minds or something? There’s no explanation for how awful this team looks at times. Fulmer used to do something similar every time we played Florida.

Why do people say this? In 40 basketball games, you will look bad sometimes. All teams do it.

 

[LivinginthePast]

Texas AnM can’t miss. We can’t hit jack. Need dalton to take over as always. Basketball is so weird.

 

[vols 30]

Effort is just not there and body language is awful

Pretty much from opening tip.

 

[DooleyOrangePants]

I would agree with that, but these guys are veterans. Juniors and Seniors. Just no excuse for inconsistent play. I just don’t get it.

Yeah that’s my issue. Completely uninspired. I hate to say it, but it was almost as if they started to believe the hype themselves and lost that edge to go out and dominate teams. I was afraid of that after the KY game and the talk of a 1 seed.

 

[GiveHim6InSC]

I thought he had swallowed the whistle the first half-- I can't imagine Adams not injecting himself into the second half.

He’ll wait until the Vols get a run to do so.
It’s what he does.
What an opportune time for some plantar fasciitis

 

[JCP201]

He never has been the same since he hurt his shoulder last year.

I forgot about that. I wonder if it's an issue now.

 

[Vol49er]

His minutes needs to be reduced 99% , he offers nothing really except some pump fakes and JJJ is just a streaky shooter that you cant depend on

I think Jahmai needs to start the next game. You gotta try something to get through to Santi, we’re past the midpoint of the season. And Jahmai has actually shot it better than Santi this year!

Josiah has been shooting well enough this year, but he needs to stop getting punked on the glass

 

[Switch 625]

Effort is just not there and body language is awful

It’s like this team has random PMS

 

[vol94]

I can handle losing to teams who are on fire. Which A&M is, but being outworked, getting out-rebounded 22-16, giving up 7 offensive boards ticks me off lol

I’m with you. It’s basketball and losses happen. I don’t like it but such is life in sports. But don’t let the lack of hustle, effort or fundamentals be the cause of a loss. Box out, play defense and hustle. Go up with two hands for a rebound and fight for the ball.

Is this team tired? The energy level is night and day than it was Vs KY and the first half Vs LSU. We saw a huge letdown in the second half dirkg LSU. Is this team fatigued? Or is AtM just better this far? They def seem like they want it more than TN.

 

[walkenvol]

We did shoot more FTs than they did. Surprising since they took more shots and seemed like they attacked the rim a lot more often. I can’t blame Pat so far.

The refs are definitely letting them play tonight but it’s looking fairly consistent both ways

 

[TheBigOne10]

Of all the problems we’ve had tonight, officiating has been way down the list. Honestly it hasn’t been that bad. Tennessee’s biggest enemy has been Tennessee.

Nobody said we are playing worth a rat’s ass. But I sat in TBA last Tuesday night and watched Pat Adams TAKE OVER the game. And he’s done it on NUMEROUS occasions.

 

[OrngeJuiceJones]

Vescovi and ZZ hurting us 1 for 11

 

[ColinS]

I honestly thought we got a better whistle than A&M in the first half

Yeah, we reached in on and bumped their guards the whole half and it was never called. It's just a swallow the whistle game. Better adjust to it around the rim and take the same approach.

 

[VolBalls33]

If Gainey/Vescovi aren't scoring, Mashack needs to be in and guarding Taylor the entire 2nd half except for breathers on the bench.
UT as a team normally plays better defense, but several players haven't been able to keep in front of their man on defense. Barnes has to be pissed.

 

[VolsAgainstTheWorld15]

If we lose by 20-25, that means TAMU makes 15+ threes. If that happens, congrats to them, complete anomaly. This isn’t a bad loss to take, I just hope we man up and make this a game in the 2H.

Same. Make it respectable at the very least. Losing this one isn’t a bad loss. Just need to avoid the bad taste that comes with a blowout.

 

[Butch s]

We rebounded poorly against LSU . . . And are getting out rebounded again tonight. We played poorly in the second half against LSU. This looks like a continuation of that / our defense was really poor in the second half against LSU.

If memory serves we beat lsu by 20

 

[Switch 625]

Yeah that’s my issue. Completely uninspired. I hate to say it, but it was almost as if they started to believe the hype themselves and lost that edge to go out and dominate teams. I was afraid of that after the KY game and the talk of a 1 seed.

I think it’s the opposite. I think they’re afraid of success and get in their own heads.

 

[berryvol]

Can’t play worse but can certainly play equally as bad. 14-point deficit. This team has serious trouble on the road against teams that play a lick of defense.

Very worried about how March is going to go now that the script is out. Just play hard-nosed defense and our veteran team gets rattled immediately. Thats the most frustrating thing. Barnes preaches physicality and not being out-touched and several times this year one of the most experienced rosters has gotten punked. Don’t know how you fix that.

Don’t disagree with anything you said. But typically we have been the team playing hard nosed defense and it’s cost us in march. I’m fine taking a loss in this game as long as we can make some adjustments and be better from it in the long run. Bad thing is, like you lightly referenced, we saw this on the road at Miss State and didn’t carry our 2H performance from that game to this one.

 

[vols 30]

If memory serves we beat lsu by 20

LSU and Ole Miss won there. Head scratcher

 

[volsarelife1]

Hopefully they come out with at least a little effort in the 2nd half. That first half effort most seemed like they didn't even want to be playing. Can't have that, especially on the road

 

[YankeeVol]

I know "it's hard" to win on the road, but damn is it frustrating